US4030621A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Compensating stacker for magazines
Assignee: RR Donnelley and Sons Co
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Filing: 1976-01-08
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Granted: 1977-06-21
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Expires: 1996-01-08
Abstract
Abstract A compensating stacker for printed periodicals has lugged endless infeed means to feed periodicals forwardly seriatim in small lifts onto an upper retractable lift supporting means which opens on each cycle to drop the lifts seriatim vertically onto a lower lift supporting means which opens on each cycle to drop each lift into a stacking station. Lift rotating means turns selected lifts 180° while they are supported on the lower lift supporting means, so each stack consists of a predetermined number of lifts of which some are oriented one way and some the other. Delivery means operates intermittently to move stacks seriatim out of the stacking station.
Inventors
- 👤 Kermit E. Swanson
- 👤 Frank J. Kuzel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 16:49
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H31/00; B65H31/30; B65H31/3027; B65H29/00; B65H29/12; B65H29/14; B65H31/04; B65H31/08; B65H31/3009; B65H31/3018; B65H31/3081; B65H33/00; B65H33/06; B65H33/08; B65H2301/00; B65H2301/40; B65H2301/42; B65H2301/421; B65H2301/4211; B65H2301/42112; B65H2301/422; B65H2301/4226; B65H2301/42261; B65H2301/422615; B65H2301/42262; B65H2301/42266; B65H2701/00; B65H2701/10; B65H2701/19; B65H2701/1932; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S414/00; Y10S414/10; Y10S414/102; Y10S414/103
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
354 words
In a stacker for printed periodicals which includes a frame, drive means on the frame for driving the stacker through successive machine cycles, driven infeed means to feed a small lift of printed periodicals forwardly into the stacker on each machine cycle, a stacking station forward of and below said infeed means to receive said lifts seriatim on top of one another, and delivery means which is operable intermittently to move stacks consisting of predetermined numbers of successive lifts seriatim out of said stacking station, an improvement consisting of apparatus for reversing the orientation of certain of said lifts so the stacks are effectively compensated, said apparatus comprising, in combination: upper substantially horizontal lift supporting means which is positioned directly above the stacking station to receive successive lifts of periodicals from the infeed means, said upper lift supporting means being movable; first drive means for moving said upper lift supporting means in timed relationship with the infeed means to drop each lift vertically a predetermined period of time after it is received; lower substantially horizontal lift supporting means positioned between the upper lift supporting means and the stacking station, said lower lift supporting means being movable between a closed position and an open position; second drive means for moving said lower lift supporting means between said positions; lower lift support control means for actuating said second drive means in timed relationship with the infeed means to close said lower lift supporting means for receiving a lift from the first lift supporting means and to thereafter open said lower lift supporting means; a turntable operatively associated with but independent of said lower lift supporting means to rotate lifts supported on said lower lift supporting means; turntable drive means for rotating said turntable in 180° increments; and turntable drive control means for operating said turntable drive means only when certain predetermined lifts in each of said predetermined number of successive lifts are on said lower lift supporting means, whereby only said certain lifts are rotated and each stack contains some lifts in a first orientation and some lifts which are turned 180° from said first orientation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
354 words
In a stacker for printed periodicals which includes a frame, drive means on the frame for driving the stacker through successive machine cycles, driven infeed means to feed a small lift of printed periodicals forwardly into the stacker on each machine cycle, a stacking station forward of and below said infeed means to receive said lifts seriatim on top of one another, and delivery means which is operable intermittently to move stacks consisting of predetermined numbers of successive lifts seriatim out of said stacking station, an improvement consisting of apparatus for reversing the orientation of certain of said lifts so the stacks are effectively compensated, said apparatus comprising, in combination: upper substantially horizontal lift supporting means which is positioned directly above the stacking station to receive successive lifts of periodicals from the infeed means, said upper lift supporting means being movable; first drive means for moving said upper lift supporting means in timed relationship with the infeed means to drop each lift vertically a predetermined period of time after it is received; lower substantially horizontal lift supporting means positioned between the upper lift supporting means and the stacking station, said lower lift supporting means being movable between a closed position and an open position; second drive means for moving said lower lift supporting means between said positions; lower lift support control means for actuating said second drive means in timed relationship with the infeed means to close said lower lift supporting means for receiving a lift from the first lift supporting means and to thereafter open said lower lift supporting means; a turntable operatively associated with but independent of said lower lift supporting means to rotate lifts supported on said lower lift supporting means; turntable drive means for rotating said turntable in 180° increments; and turntable drive control means for operating said turntable drive means only when certain predetermined lifts in each of said predetermined number of successive lifts are on said lower lift supporting means, whereby only said certain lifts are rotated and each stack contains some lifts in a first orientation and some lifts which are turned 180° from said first orientation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
The combination of claim 1 in which the lower lift supporting means comprises two effectively coplanar confronting plates, each of said plates having an edge which overlies a marginal portion of the other of said plates, and said edges extending generally radially in opposite directions from the axis of rotation of a lift supported on said plates, and in which the lift rotating means turns a lift in a direction so that the leading margin of the lift during rotation slides off the overlying edges onto the underlying plates.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination of claim 2 in which the second drive means reciprocates the plates simultaneously toward and away from each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination of claim 1 in which the upper lift supporting means comprises two opposed planar members which are effectively coplanar and which are reciprocable toward and away from each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
85 words
The combination of claim 4 in which the first drive means comprises separate cranks operatively connected to said planar members and constantly driven by the stacker drive means to make one revolution each time a lift is fed onto said planar members and thus cycle the planar members between adjacent and remote limit positions, the eccentricity of said cranks being sufficient to permit a lift to drop clear of the planar members as the latter approach and begin to return from their remote limit positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination of claim 1 in which the lower lift supporting means comprises two opposed plates which are effectively coplanar, and in which the second drive means reciprocates said plates simultaneously toward and away from each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
The combination of claim 6 in which the second drive means comprises a pair of fluid cylinders, one operatively connected to each plate, and in which the lower lift support control means includes a solenoid operated normally closed valve controlling the admission of fluid to said cylinders, and an electrical cam switch driven in timed relationship with the infeed means for controlling the time and duration of energization of said solenoid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination of claim 7 in which the lower lift supporting means is independent of the turntable, and the latter rotates a lift on the surface of said lower lift supporting means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
89 words
The combination of claim 8 in which the lower lift supporting means comprises two effectively coplanar confronting plates, each of said plates having an edge which overlies a marginal portion of the other of said plates, and said edges extending generally radially in opposite directions from the axis of rotation of a lift supported on said plates, and in which the lift rotating means turns a lift in a direction so that the leading margin of the lift during rotation slides off the overlying edges onto the underlying plates.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
The combination of claim 8 in which the turntable comprises a rotatably mounted disc overlying the opposed plates of the lower lift supporting means, said disc having a central opening with two parallel sides provided with upstanding webs, and said opening being large enough to receive a lift with said webs in very close spaced relationship to two sides of the lift.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination of claim 10 in which the turntable drive means comprises an electric motor, and power transmission means between said motor and said disc.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
The combination of claim 1 in which the turntable comprises a rotatably mounted disc overlying the lower lift supporting means, said disc having a central opening with two parallel sides provided with upstanding webs, and said opening being large enough to receive a lift with said webs in very close spaced relationship with two sides of the web.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
72 words
The combination of claim 1 in which the second drive means comprises a pair of fluid cylinders, one operatively connected to each plate, and in which the lower lift support control means includes a solenoid operated normally closed valve controlling the admission of fluid to said cylinders, and an electrical cam switch driven in timed relationship with the infeed means for controlling the time and duration of the energization of said solenoid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
63 words
The combination of claim 1 in which the turntable drive control means includes an electrical switch, actuating means driven in timed relationship with the infeed means for actuating said switch once on each machine cycle, and electrical counter means operatively associated with said electrical switch so that actuation of the electrical switch energizes the turntable drive means only on certain selected machine cycles.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-06-20 | 1980-12-20 | 1981-06-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-20 | 1984-12-20 | 1985-06-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-20 | 1988-12-20 | 1989-06-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |